Reports From The Area

April 13, 2007|BY DON LANCASTER/Correspondent

Temperatures below were obtained at noon on the respective dates:

April 4 April 11

CBBT 53 48

Kiptopeke 53 51

KAYAK ANGLING NEWS

The best kayak angling news came from the morning the snow and sleet arrived in our area. Anglers fishing the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel found gray trout measuring as long as 25 inches, flounder, croakers, puppy drum and speckled trout. The stripers still were holding along the light line but refused to hit anything. Those electing to fish in the daylight hours moved to Rich Man's Cove in Rudee Inlet and found that the speckled trout didn't want their normal lure (jigs). But after switching to a red and white Mirror Lure, anglers were catching speckled trout measuring as long as 20 inches. Switching back to jigs after the specks stopped biting produced a couple of 16-inch puppy drum.

SALTWATER

The 2007 flounder season began April 1 and the initial news was super. Limits of keeper flounder (minimum of 18.5 inches) are being caught from the area between Buoy 36A and the Concrete Ships, the Hump, the oceanside area of the Fourth Island and around the 8-mile marker on the oceanside. Speckled trout catch reports are the best in many years. Specks are biting inside Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets, in the York River and around the HRBT. Croakers weighing more than 3 pounds are being caught and the bite is on everywhere from the James River and James River Pier, to the York River, Poquoson River and in Chisman Creek. Weather permitting, the tautog bite is moving to the structures along the CBBT, around Back River Reef and at York Spit Light. Offshore anglers, deep dropping along the 50 Fathom Line, are catching big blueline tilefish, with a new, pending state and IGFA World Record, 19-pound, 14-ounce, monster being certified.

FRESHWATER

Beaverdam Swamp (804-693-2107): Beaverdam Swamp is at full pool, cloudy and has a surface temperature at the floating dock of the mid-60s. Largemouth bass, crappie and channel catfish are active, with fish being caught at the fork in the lake heading toward the Route 606 entrance. The coves across from the ranger station and those by the Farm House are producing mid-size crappie.

Little Creek Reservoir (566-1702): Little Creek Reservoir is at normal pool, fairly clear and has an estimated surface temperature in the low 50s. Largemouth bass are being lured off their spawning beds, located along the shorelines near the drop-offs. The baits of choice are spinner baits, Super Flukes and shallow running crank baits. Anglers using minnows and crappie jigs around the flooded structure are catching crappie weighing as much as 1 1/2 pounds. Chain pickerel continue to provide excellent action for anglers using spinner baits, plastic worms and live minnows, fished in the back of the coves. *